Monday, 24 November 2014

Is there anything left to say about oud? I suspect most of you reading this would shout out a resounding No, and a few months ago, I would've agreed with you. But today, I'm not sure. Since it started to gain prominence in about 2008, the ingredient has become so ubiquitous that it is now a perfumery cliche, a lazy way for brands to foist the notion of 'the exotic' onto potential customers. Walk into a department store and chances are you'll see those three, innocuous letters at several unlikely fragrance counters, including Gucci, Lancôme and Versace, none of which is synonymous with Arabian aesthetics. Oud - or at least, the idea of oud - is everywhere. It has entered the common vocabulary of scentusiasts. There is almost no space left for it to invade. So, at this important juncture in the development of the ingredient's relationship with modern perfumery, I'd suggest that the time is ripe for an exercise in looking back: a compilation of the best oud perfumes on the market today, as chosen by yours truly.

Friday, 21 November 2014

As far as I'm concerned, any brand which releases only one new perfume per year is worthy of serious attention. In an environment where even niche outfits seem unable to let a few months go by without accosting all-too-confused consumers with yet another creation, perhaps the best way to get people to sit up and listen is by realising that less is more. In 2013, Atelier PMP gave us Dreckig Bleiben, a well-made, if somewhat forgettable, woody-balsamic scent, put together by Mark Buxton. With commendable patience, they've waited twelve months before unveiling the follow-up: Concrete Flower (also composed by Buxton).

Monday, 17 November 2014

As someone who owns very well-thumbed copies of The Perfect Scent and The Emperor Of Scent, I was excited to discover that Chandler Burr’s distinctive prose style has once again been employed in the service of perfume writing. This time, his subject is the house that gave us Poison, Eau Sauvage and Fahrenheit. The result of a direct commission from the brand, Dior: The Perfumes consists of brief essays on several key releases - starting, of course, with 1947’s Miss Dior - as well as thoughts on the couturier himself and his impact on the arts scene.

Friday, 14 November 2014

In David Almond's book, Skellig, a young boy encounters a strange man in the ramshackle shed at his new house. He's filthy, his clothes are in tatters and he reeks of neglect. He's a complete mess. However, as the story progresses, he thrives under the boy's care and he eventually reveals his true form: a fantastical, angel-like being, capable of filling people's lives with little miracles of hope. His embodiment of the sacred and the profane was one of the first things that came to my mind when I wore Jean-Claude Ellena's twelfth Hermessence creation, Cuir D'Ange.

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

From left to right: Alexandra and Chantal Roos,
co-founders of Dear Rose

"Oh, Bloody Rose! Bloody Rose has no rose in it. It's a hypnotic white flower. It's the naughty girl. When she arrives, you don't see her. She has a drydown of patchouli. She leaves a trace. Be careful with Bloody Rose. She's kind of a bitch. But the perfumer didn't understand. The vision of the perfumer was not the vision we had. Ours was extremely chic and elegant. His vision was obvious: big breasts, big everything. One day I said, 'Stop! Go over it all again. Yours is too vulgar, too ordinary. She's not dangerous.'"

Sunday, 9 November 2014

It's been only a few days since the announcement was made that Editions De Parfums Frederic Malle is to be bought by Estée Lauder, but already the finger-waggers are crawling out of the woodwork, saying they saw this coming. Perhaps they did. However, I don't have a particularly business-conscious head on my shoulders, so I don't mind admitting that the news took me by surprise. What's more interesting is that it seems to have struck a powerful chord amongst scentusiasts online. I'd love to put together a lengthy, detailed response to some of the comments that are being made, but I'm afraid I'm currently in the throes of time-consuming Day Job duties, so instead, I'll direct your attention to Elena Vosnaki's post on the subject on her Perfume Shrine blog (click here to read it). I'll disable comments on this post so as to encourage the discussion to remain focussed in one place. Do take the time to check out what Elena's readers have said on the matter and please add your own voice to the debate. Several juicy issues have already been raised, including the role of bloggers in providing brands with publicity and the (rather grim) future of 'niche'.

I'll leave you with a few thoughts. Nothing remains static, least of all in the world of perfume. Companies will continue to be formed, dissolved, taken over, bought, broken up or sold. Unless we have some sort of privileged insight into Frederic Malle's life, we can't pass judgement on the professional and personal circumstances which persuaded him to steer his company along this particular route. Perhaps he'd always intended to sell to one of the Big Boys. Who knows? Unlike several commentators, I don't feel personally aggrieved by his decision. I don't subscribe to the view that his company - or any other company, for that matter - owes me allegiance purely because I happen to be more interested in fragrances than the average shopper. I understand that fiscal imperatives often have to make way for aesthetic ambitions. I also don't agree that 'Lauder' is necessarily a synonym for 'evil'. There are plenty of mainstream brands out there which continue to treat us to praiseworthy releases; by the same token, there are plenty of niche brands which are taking us for a ride and expecting us to part with our cash for sub-standard products. In other words, just because Malle will now be a Lauder company doesn't automatically mean his perfumes will deteriorate.

That said, I am worried about the future. The PR reps for both brands have assured everyone that everything is going to remain exactly as it is. But they've got to say that. They're hardly going to put out a press release claiming that everyone had better stock up on Portrait Of A Lady right now because there's every possibility that its formula is going to be mucked up. Indeed, it's almost certain that no formulae are going to be mucked up straight away. But what about later? That's my main concern. Yes, things will stay the same for now, but what about 12, 24 and 36 months down the line? If anyone can maintain creative integrity whilst working for a massive corporation, perhaps it's Malle, but I wonder if even his will is strong enough to do so. Time will reveal all. Until it does... I confess I'm very, very tempted to add a few Malles to my Christmas list.

Friday, 7 November 2014

I can't start thinking about Christmas until we've seen the back of All Saints' Day; any sign of Yuletide shenanigans before then makes my stomach turn. But we are now well and truly into November, which means it's time to start turning our attention to the business of filling the bottle-shaped holes in the lives of our dearest scentusiasts. So pour yourself another glass of mulled wine and feast your eyes on Persolaise's very own perfume recommendations for Christmas 2014.For a special someone of the female persuasion: Oeillet Bengale from Aedes De Venustas - Just when you thought we'd never have another decent carnation perfume, Rodrigo Flores-Roux comes bearing a bunch of elegant red and white blooms, decorated with spices, incense and a sprinkling of desert sand.

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

She reaches into the plastic tray, takes out her handbag and slings it over her shoulder. She hoists her bright orange case off the conveyor belt and places it on the ground. She extends the handle, takes a breath and then walks away from the queue, towards the gleaming logos. Louis Vuitton. Gucci. Hermès. As the lights from the displays fall upon her features, her scowl softens, relaxes, and slowly turns into a smile. Her eyes widen. She raises herself up to the tips of her toes, very briefly. She lets out a six-year-old's chuckle. And then, quietly, her smile now a grin, she whispers a triumphant "Yes!" before dashing into the first shop.

People-watching at airports is always fascinating, but I found the incident above particularly interesting, as it took place soon after my visit to the new perfume counter at Abu Dhabi Airport, a visit which prompted various musings on the psychology of airport shopping.

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